.png&width=24&type=webp)
.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Princeton Athletic Communications
Princeton Ranked #5 in ECAC Preseason Poll
September 25, 2017 | Men's Ice Hockey
Coming off of its impressive run during the 2016-17 season, Princeton has gained respect and has been ranked No. 5 in the ECAC Preseason Coaches Poll it was announced by the league at the annual Media Day in Albany on Monday afternoon. The Tigers were also selected to finish No. 4 in the ECAC Preseason Media Poll.
This is the first time the Tigers have been in the top five since 2009-10 when the team was No. 3 in both preseason polls after winning the ECAC Tournament in 2009.
"I think it's pretty amazing to see the progress we've made in just three years," captain Eric Robinson said. "It's obviously an honor to be ranked that high in the preseason and to see that we are gaining respect around the league. The things that have helped us grow have been our consistency and relentless work, and we have to remember that no matter where we are ranked in the preseason."
Both the coaches and the media were unanimous in their decisions for the preseason all-league team, tabbing junior Max Véronneau as one of the top three forwards in the league.
"I think we have to play and practice day by day," head coach Ron Fogarty said. "The predictions are flattering but you can't base what happened last year on what's going to occur each and every game in the ECAC. The coaches league is very good. We were an under .500 team last season, so the next step is to be over .500. You have to keep living in the moment and practicing to the best of your ability and continue to get better every day. It may sound cliché but we stand by that. Worry about what you're doing right now, believe in the process and everything else will take care of its own."
Princeton finished the 2016-17 season with a 15-16-3 overall record, matching its number of wins over the last three years combined. The Tigers, predicted to finish 12th in the league took seventh in the ECAC and won their first playoff series since 2009, to advance to the quarterfinals. The Tigers were one of the most improved teams in the country this season: after starting 0-6-1, the Tigers then went 7-2-1 in their turnaround season that saw them grab home ice for the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The squad earned six NCAA Top Plays during the year as it nearly doubled its offensive output from 2015-16 to 2016-17, scoring 43 more goals (103-06). The program also recorded 178 assists, the seventh most assists in a single season at Princeton.
Princeton hosts Western Ontario in an exhibition game at Hobey Baker Rink on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. It is free to attend.
The season opener is slated for Sunday, Oct. 29 when Princeton hosts Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
ECAC Coaches Poll
1. Harvard (9) - 119 pts
2. Quinnipiac (1) - 106 pts
3. Cornell (1) - 95 pts
4. Clarkson (1) - 91 pts
5. Princeton - 80 pts
6. Union - 72 pts
7. St. Lawrence - 69 pts
8. Yale - 54 pts
9. Dartmouth - 33 pts
10. Rensselaer - 32 pts
11. Colgate - 23 pts
12. Brown - 18 pts ECAC Media Poll
This is the first time the Tigers have been in the top five since 2009-10 when the team was No. 3 in both preseason polls after winning the ECAC Tournament in 2009.
"I think it's pretty amazing to see the progress we've made in just three years," captain Eric Robinson said. "It's obviously an honor to be ranked that high in the preseason and to see that we are gaining respect around the league. The things that have helped us grow have been our consistency and relentless work, and we have to remember that no matter where we are ranked in the preseason."
Both the coaches and the media were unanimous in their decisions for the preseason all-league team, tabbing junior Max Véronneau as one of the top three forwards in the league.
"I think we have to play and practice day by day," head coach Ron Fogarty said. "The predictions are flattering but you can't base what happened last year on what's going to occur each and every game in the ECAC. The coaches league is very good. We were an under .500 team last season, so the next step is to be over .500. You have to keep living in the moment and practicing to the best of your ability and continue to get better every day. It may sound cliché but we stand by that. Worry about what you're doing right now, believe in the process and everything else will take care of its own."
Princeton finished the 2016-17 season with a 15-16-3 overall record, matching its number of wins over the last three years combined. The Tigers, predicted to finish 12th in the league took seventh in the ECAC and won their first playoff series since 2009, to advance to the quarterfinals. The Tigers were one of the most improved teams in the country this season: after starting 0-6-1, the Tigers then went 7-2-1 in their turnaround season that saw them grab home ice for the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The squad earned six NCAA Top Plays during the year as it nearly doubled its offensive output from 2015-16 to 2016-17, scoring 43 more goals (103-06). The program also recorded 178 assists, the seventh most assists in a single season at Princeton.
Princeton hosts Western Ontario in an exhibition game at Hobey Baker Rink on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. It is free to attend.
The season opener is slated for Sunday, Oct. 29 when Princeton hosts Holy Cross at 4 p.m.
ECAC Coaches Poll
1. Harvard (9) - 119 pts
2. Quinnipiac (1) - 106 pts
3. Cornell (1) - 95 pts
4. Clarkson (1) - 91 pts
5. Princeton - 80 pts
6. Union - 72 pts
7. St. Lawrence - 69 pts
8. Yale - 54 pts
9. Dartmouth - 33 pts
10. Rensselaer - 32 pts
11. Colgate - 23 pts
12. Brown - 18 pts ECAC Media Poll
1. Harvard (25) - 342 pts
2. Quinnipiac (3) - 324 pts
3. Cornell (1) - 272 pts
4. Princeton - 246 pts
5. Clarkson - 231 pts
6. Union (1) - 195 pts
7. Yale - 195 pts
8. St. Lawrence - 188 pts
9. Dartmouth - 110 pts
10. Rensselaer - 82 pts
11. Brown - 76 pts
12. Colgate - 68 pts
Coaches Preseason All-League Team and Media Preseason Poll
2. Quinnipiac (3) - 324 pts
3. Cornell (1) - 272 pts
4. Princeton - 246 pts
5. Clarkson - 231 pts
6. Union (1) - 195 pts
7. Yale - 195 pts
8. St. Lawrence - 188 pts
9. Dartmouth - 110 pts
10. Rensselaer - 82 pts
11. Brown - 76 pts
12. Colgate - 68 pts
Coaches Preseason All-League Team and Media Preseason Poll
G - Merrick Madsen, Harvard
D - Adam Fox, Harvard
D - Chase Priskie, Quinnipiac
F - Ryan Donato, HarvardÂ
F - Joe Snively, Yale
F - Max Véronneau, Princeton
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyWednesday, February 25
Thursday, January 15
Wednesday, January 07
Wednesday, November 26